The confirmation of a Cupra performance sub-brand for Seat is on the cards for the Geneva motor show in March next year.
Speaking to Autocar at the Frankfurt motor show, where the firm unveiled a new Leon Cupra R, Seat boss Luca de Meo remained coy on the topic of a standalone Cupra brand but said: "We will be more precise in Geneva. Talk to us then."
He added: "I think there is potential to develop that domain of the brand. In the past Seat has been one dimensional. Cupra gives us opportunity to have another dimension."
De Meo also commented that it was looking to develop a whole range of Cupra models rather than just offering the Leon, which is currently the only performance-badged Seat. An Ateca Cupra has also been confirmed for production.
When asked about the possibility of a standalone model for Cupra, de Meo simply said: "Step by step."
It was only recently that Seat filed a series of relevant trademarks including an aggressive-looking Cupra badge not seen before, suggesting more prominence for the sporting offshoot than is currently the case.
Frankfurt motor show 2017 - live report and updates
Seat has also trademarked several names - Tango, Salsa and Bolero - from Seat's past concept cars, which further suggests potential stand-alone status for Cupra-badged models. The names were previously used for sporty concepts in three different segments.
The Salsa concept, revealed in 2000, bore more than a passing resemblance to a sporty Leon and previewed the then next-generation version of the hatchback. The Bolero took the shape of a muscular sports saloon, with discreet rear doors giving a more coupé-like profile.
Join the debate
Danwise
Tasty.
I like the sound of the Salsa.
robhardyuk
.
Not for a hot version of a car! It sounds more appropriate for a girly version of a mini or a c1.
simonali
It's SEAT, not Seat
SEAT is an acronym, not a word!
Zeddy
simonali wrote:
I know! Mags tend to make an arse of it.
If I want an autonomous car, I'll take a taxi.
Kris Culmer
A clarification
Hi Simonali,
Our house style is to write acronyms (pronounced as a word) as regular proper nouns: 'Seat', 'Fiat' and 'Alfa', for example. If they're initialisms, such as 'BMW' or 'AMG', we capitalise.
Thanks,Kris
Myk
A clarification
"Alfa" isn't an acronym though. The name of the company is Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. - it's not Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili Romeo (A.L.F.A. Romeo). Also, I'd suggest that the only reason SEAT etc are written as regular proper nouns is because they can be pronounced as words, whereas BMW and AMG can't. They're still acronyms though and should be expressed as such. Pedantry over...
Bob Cat Brian
Kris Culmer wrote:
Why? Why have a policy that is to be incorrect? Writing SEAT, FIAT or SAAB may seem pedantic, but it is correct and shows an attention to detail that a professional publication should strive to achieve.
As my grandfather used to say 'You know better, so do better'.
WallMeerkat
While I look forward to
While I look forward to sporting SEATs (weren't they meant to be VW's Alfa Romeo?), surely VW group doesn't need yet another brand?
simonali
Yeah, but...
...if you go to fiat.co.uk they refer to themselves and their vehicles as Fiat. SEAT do not.
Also if we're gonna be really pedantic, should we not be shortening Volkswagen to Vw? It is, after all, one word, not two.
;-)
finecitytom
Autocar House Style
Hi Kris,
What does the house style say about the word stillborn? I don't think it's too PC to suggest that it should be dropped from use. Rather a throwaway use of a word primarily associated with something we all, hopefully, wish were rarer than it is.
cheers
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